The Minnesota Vikings were unable to attend LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels‘ pro day, missing out on a direct evaluation of the player widely expected to be a top-three draft pick. This was part of the Vikings’ aim to gather more insights through a private session.
According to Darren Wolfson of KSTP, the Vikings have encountered resistance in arranging a private meeting with Daniels, attributed to doubts from Daniels’ agents regarding the Vikings’ ability to secure a top-three draft pick.
Wolfson shared on the “Mackey and Judd” podcast by SKOR North that the reluctance comes from Daniels’ camp, which is confident that Daniels will be chosen either by Washington at No. 2 or as a minimum, remain within the top three picks. They question the necessity of Daniels engaging in further meetings, especially with teams like the Vikings, when the pre-draft process has already been exhaustive.
The Vikings, under coach Kevin O’Connell, have opted for a unique scouting approach, prioritizing private meetings over attending pro days. However, with the draft approaching, O’Connell has yet to witness Daniels in action, a situation compounded by the quarterback’s absence from combine workouts and the Vikings’ ongoing struggle to demonstrate their ability to trade up for a higher draft pick.
The Vikings have shown interest in trading up, particularly targeting the New England Patriots’ third overall pick, a strategy discussed as early as the Senior Bowl in February. Nonetheless, the Patriots have maintained their position, actively scouting quarterbacks for the first round, with reports from The Athletic’s Chad Gradd suggesting their intention to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 pick.⊂
